MONTROSE, Colo.—New Montrose County regulations will require a permit before development can take place in areas designated as occupied habitat for the Gunnison sage grouse in an effort to prevent the bird from being listed under the federal Endangered Species Act that would further restrict development.

Commissioners hope to prove to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that there are adequate local management strategies for species preservation in place.

“We’re taking steps to assure the viability of the bird. We’re trying to make sure they prevail (as a species) and don’t go extinct,” County Commissioner Gary Ellis said.

As part of the wildlife impact mitigation regulations, commissioners adopted a Gunnison sage grouse occupied habitat map, based on state Department of Parks and Wildlife information. The map establishes areas of state interest in Montrose County that contain or have significant impact on natural resources important statewide. The map will be available at the Montrose County Planning and Development Department.

Special-use permits, amendments to zoning, planned unit developments, building permits for new structures and subdivision of property within the habitat area will not be approved unless the applicant first obtains a development permit or a statement that the development will have no significant impact.

The regulations spell out the requirements for obtaining a development permit and also detail the appeals process.

“If they don’t like the answer, there is a right of appeal. There are still options if they’re not comfortable with what they are told about the initial application,” Ellis said.

The Gunnison sage grouse is found primarily in Gunnison County, but also in limited areas of Montrose, Hinsdale, Saguache, Delta, Dolores, Delta, San Miguel, Mesa and Montezuma counties in Colorado, as well as San Juan County, Utah, the Montrose Daily Press reported Thursday ( http://tinyurl.com/q3tqls3).

Several of the counties have indicated that a listing would devastate their economies and harm landowners and claimed that a listing is unnecessary because of local protection efforts.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing the bird as endangered, because of ongoing habitat fragmentation, low numbers, threats from development and other considerations.

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